Behind the costumes of Bikini Bottom’s citizens

Everyone knows the storyline, the main actors and the director, but no one knows who is behind the curtains and the needle. For the past four years, instructional dean Marta Dibell has been instrumental in the costume design and production for multiple campus plays.

Dibell’s most recent project gave rise to the costumes for the spring production, “The SpongeBob Musical.” Given the topic last fall, she had a lot of time to consider and buy the fabrics to bring her vision to reality. When the cast was chosen, Dibell took measurements and started making the costumes the following weekend.

Dibell’s process required a lot of collaboration. To meet her vision, multiple hands on deck were required and delivered; specifically, sports medicine teacher Vanessa Pai Chen’s creation of the showgirl headpieces during the tap dance scene as well as her support in the overall process was essential.

“[Mrs. Chen] was fabulous to work with. We made such a great team this year. I just say, ‘Here’s my vision’ and she goes with it and creates it. A team of moms would come in every Saturday because I couldn’t do it by myself,” Dibell said.

Dibell’s inspiration for her costumes come from the original broadway. She adds her touch to the creations after considering components of the performance. She must take account of the costume’s fit into the choreography and budget of the musical.

This is not her first rodeo. Ever since students returned from the pandemic, Dibell has voluntarily designed these costumes, starting with “The Little Mermaid” (2022),  “Newsies” (2023), “Little Shop of Horrors” (2023), “Mamma Mia” (2024), “Peter and the StarCatcher” (2024) and “The SpongeBob Musical” (2025).

“[Sewing] is my happy place. I will go home from sewing [to] go home and sew. Making mistakes is part of the process. I find having to go back and unpick so relaxing,” she said.